Quoted: What would you die for?

This is a question that I have considered seriously and repeatedly in the past, before and after enlisting in the Marine Corps, before attending my CHL class, and before pursuing my current line of work.

Now, in the Marine Corps it was a consideration that I might be placed in a position where I could be considered to be dying to keep some ungrateful Third World chucklehead from killing another of his kind, but in the final analysis Marines die for other Marines. The Marine Corps exists to place Marines in the position of dying for one another in pursuit of some lofty goal. Didn't someone famous once say that there is no greater love than that of laying down one's life for one's friends? In the culture of the Marine Corps, other Marines that one may dislike come even before friends. The culture of the Marine Corps is based on successive generations of Marines carrying on the fine traditions that their forebears died to establish. God bless the United States of America, and success to the Marines.

As far as personally risking my life --as a concealed handgun carrier-- I carry first to defend my wife, my way of life, and then my life, in that order. Of the three, only my way of life ought to need any explanation, and I don't know that it's easily reducible to a cogent paragraph right now. I'm currently running on a sleep deficit.

With my current line of work, some might say that I'm simply a mercenary and risk my life for filthy lucre but the fact is that I get to choose my employer and therefore the "cause" for which I risk my life at work. My job, done correctly, is much more about avoiding people and places that might put my employer's life --and therefore my own-- at risk. Should the percentages work against me in that regard, at least I am part of a team of men whom I respect with a similar culture to that of the Marine Corps, and the man we're protecting is one worthy of the risk.

I prefer killing to dying.

Closest family.

Nothing else.   I can do more good for any cause by remaining alive and continuing to be an agitator
and underground influence.

I'm not saying I'm a coward.  If I had to do something that may get me the Medal of Honor and possible
a funeral with honors, too,   I'd do what had to be done but with a great deal of attention being paid to
NOT getting the funeral.   I'd settle for a Silver Star and a row of stitches in preference to the MOH and a hole in the ground.

I can do more good ALIVE.

CJ